The first arrest was a protester who objected to the police removing a
tarp that was protecting our media equipment from the rain. The police
said that the tarp constituted a tent, in spite of it not being a
habitat in any way. Police continued pressuring protesters with
extralegal tactics, saying that a protester on a bullhorn was breaking a
law. The protester refused to cease exercising his first amendment
rights and was also arrested. Then the police began to indiscriminately
attempt to arrest protesters, many of them unsheathed their batons, in
spite of the fact that the protest remained peaceful.

The new residents of Liberty Square continued to serve as shining
examples of law abiding behavior in spite of police harassment and the
loose interpretation and selective enforcement of New York’s laws by the
NYPD.

Please be warned that the contents of the following videos may be difficult to watch:

We will continue to post updates as new information becomes available.

It makes me very happy to see Americans getting up against neoliberalism. Keep going. Here in Chile we are getting fed up of the corporations and transnational abuses. Most of our natural resources are prperty of private corporations and most of them from abroad. This includes water rights.
I hope people here in Chile, other than students which have been protesting for better education for more than 4 month can catch up with your movement.

Hey, guys. I know a lot of anons wish they could have made it, but didn't. I know a lot of them are looking for ways to help the cause, and I think I've figured out a way that they can. If you get arrested, or if you see some police brutality, get the offending police officer's name and badge number. Anonymous is waiting in the wings to start dropping docs on any cops that get out of line.

Advice from a lawyer on the subject of getting a police officer's badge number: "As a defense lawyer, I know that asking a police officer for his badge number and last name sometimes annoys the officer. I have also seen several instances where I police officer has found something additional to write up once this information is asked for. This is why I would advise anyone in this situation to ask for badge number and last name once you have had a ticket issued or once you believe the officer has finished.

I say this because if an officer writes an additional ticket or changes his original charge after you have asserted your legal right for police identification, you have grounds to cite him for abuse of power. I have had a few clients where this has been the case and the officer in question was almost always disciplined because of it (on one occasion, I had a Park Police officer discharged completely due to taking action after his badge number was asked for) and often times, if the original offense was minor, this can cause the entire charge to be withdrawn."

"In addition to that, taking notes and times is incredibly important in a court of law. I think it is ludicrous to make the claim that this makes "you look as if you are constantly getting in trouble." You can never be too precise or have too much information. In fact, most police officers would disagree with CampusCop, as it is a great help to the officers to have this information because they, too, take notes of these instances and giving them your own to cross reference makes their lives a hell of a lot easier."

"I would, however, agree that you should always address them as officer or detective or sir/ma'am. Even if they are being abusive, you should always address them with respect and assert your rights and you will have a much better chance of clearing up the situation later. In the moment, they have the power and there's almost nothing you can do to take that away from them on the street."

While this is good practical advice for the most part, I just have to take issue with the last comment, as it reflects a lack of imagination. "They have the power and there's almost nothing you can do to take that away from them on the street." There are lots of things one can do to take away their power. If this is the American Tahir Square, then perhaps we should look to the Egyptians as an example - the police were the first to flee once the crowd became uncontrollable. And the occupation actively defended itself against government assaults with barricades and street fighting. We should honor their courage by matching it with our own. Occupy everything. Demand nothing.

What to do on the street depends on the balance of forces, not principles. If there are 100 cops and 2 protesters, erecting a barricade is impractical and so is resisting arrest. If there are 100 protesters and 2 cops, then you own the street. The Egyptians had a million plus people in the square. There are only 100-200 in the NYC park. -www.planetanarchy.net

There is a global demonstration planned for next 15th of october, and it would be EPIC if NYC and all USA could join us; there protests are already organized to go all around EU, I personally think it will be astonishing for the rich and powerfull to see a demonstration on a global scale, also it can strengthen your actual movement by focusing on a single date to gather as much people as possible

Thanks for your time, and i really appreciate what u are doing over there, at least in USA you arent all asleep and that is what you are showing to the world. Keep it up, we wish you the best here from Spain and all Europe!

Stay strong I wish I could be there with you. !!!!
Keep warm and dry and don't loose hope. People are watching and being inspired. I talked about your protests today with my kindergarten class. I might have some unhappy parents, but hopefully some informed and impassioned children. It's never to early to learn about the power of true honest democracy.

How odd. I keep thinking we have this fantasy of the right to assemble but it seems that so many protests end in the right of authority to disassemble. Good luck. Keep it going. No one has done a thing to stop the greatest theft of wealth in the history of humanity. I hope the fire keeps burning and we can reset the system and introduce liability for the guilty.

Very hard to watch the video. Sad that these police officers are using brutality against the people who came out to defend ALL OF US against this corporate-run government.

To anyone not from the US- thanks for your support. I feel injusticed when I hear the world say all Americans are greedy and narrow-minded. There are a lot of Americans who hate what our government does just as much as you.

Can't wait for my friends and I to join OccupyWallSt later in the week. Hang in there, we can make a difference.

Hey, you all have full support from Czech Republic! Me and many others are watching closely what is going on by you and spreading across everyone we know. Media here made not a beep about this events. Thank god for the internet.
Hang in there!!!!
Michal, Czech Republic

To the NYPD is the money really worth living with the way you treated these PEOPLE ? i mean your treating them worse than you would a an actual criminal and it just sickens me the way you "serve and protect" our people. and if you dont have to cooperate with us why should we you? "Beneath This Mask Is More Than Just Flesh But Ideas and Ideas are Bullet Proof"

If they're specifically asking for batteries, please buy them the batteries. I think the power generator is actually offline today because we had to pack everything up for the rain and because the cops took the tarps we used to cover the media center.

You are teaching communism. Anyone with half a brain would know that this is a really stupid idea. Maybe if you were not teaching the Communist Manifesto and you were at the Federal Reserve instead of Wall Street, you would get support from people with brains, but instead, you are stuck with a bunch of ill informed communists.

Suggestion. If the police want to arrest one of you, then the rest of you surround that person and offer yourselves to be arrested instead. The police can't possibly arrest all of you, at least not without it becoming a big news.

Can't possibly? Mass arrests are a common tactic to shut down protests. I hope folks on the ground have discussed how they can avoid being kettled and shutdown. It's obviously not legal, but it's effective, especially if accompanied by some pepper spray and baton blows. I think based on media coverage so far, or lack thereof, any mass arrest would either be ignored or reported as justified, parroting whatever made up reason the cops come up with. This is too important - what you're doing - don't allow them to stop it - every day it continues the possibilities grow. These moments don't come along often - make the most of yours!

Number makes a difference here. If there are several thousands of protesters offering themselves for arrest, there will not be enough policemen to carry out the arrests. If there are hundreds of thousands, the police will join the protesters.

If there are several thousand, they'll probably just gas you in order to disperse you. If that doesn't work, they'll pull out the rubber bullets and concussion grenades. Peaceful protest is not enough to protect you or the occupation from police violence.

I pledge NO allegiance to the admiralty flag of the United Corporations of America, and to the fraud in which it stands, one world govt under fiat currency, derivatives with tyranny and injustice for all.

Law has been corrupted and obviously our govt as well. Knowledge and numbers is our power, it is time to let the de facto govt know who we are...ONE CONSCIOUS ONE LOVE!

Guys, keep it up. I just found this today...but you all have my full support. If I had money to donate for food, or any skills to help for media, I would, but for now, please just hear my cheer coming all the way from Idaho! Keep it up! Persevere!

The only way forward at this point is a non-violent traffic blocking campaign. In many respects the arrests this morning were the cops doing the protest a favor by creating an incident which caused the energy level to rise very quickly and it has stayed there all day. That is what this campaign needs, a serious rise in energy to create critical mass to converge on the scene in the streets.

This is why I am calling on folks to go into the streets, sit down and block traffic. Mass arrests will create an energy flow towards our goals. Without direct confrontation of the power structure on Wall St. through non-violent civil disobedience this campaign will simply fissile.

You have our attention now, we are donating money and many are on their way there but capitulating to the authorities unconstitutional free speech zones is just ceding ground to the oligarchs.

Blocking traffic will inspire many more to come to your side, Hell I might even get off my old ass and come a get arrested with you. I haven't been arrested for along time and feel like I'm up for it.

The Lawyers Guild is in place and ready to work for you but I can tell you from direct experience that you have to give the public a real concrete reason to lend their support and bodies to this cause. The public needs to see real sacrifice. That your willing to be arrested to fight for economic justice for the working people in this country. When the coal miners were being shot on the picket line in the eighties the nation came to their support.

I beg you, do not blow this opportunity to gain critical mass. Almost everyone that is unemployed and that are working a shit job for shit wages is on your side but they need to see that if they give you their support they won't be betrayed like the democrats and Obama have betrayed them.

Great idea, but people will+able to do this are in short supply. Therefore, they should try to avoid being arrested. Do the action, block traffic, and then when the cops show, don't meekly offer yourself for arrest - RUN! Regroup, pick a new location and do it again. We may not have huge numbers (yet) but we have better mobility and flexibility.
Peaceful civil disobedience doesn't require that you give yourself up for arrest at the first opportunity...

Thats actually a bad tactic Dan because the cops will pursue you aggressively placing activists in further danger having to run harder to get away. I once saw a cop do a flying tackle of an activist doing exactly as you suggested. Both the cop and the activist were badly injured. Blocking traffic and waiting to be arrested causes the traffic to snarl even worse than if you block and run. As far as numbers, once the arrests for blocking traffic begin and the word spreads of the arrests more people will come. They will be drawn to the action as if to mothers milk because the action represents hope.

Obviously only a tactic for those willing to risk running. :) But unless they have 1 cop for every protester, scattering will mean most of you get away.
Getting arrested just saps the group - it takes money to bail arrestees, and meanwhile the group doesn't have the numbers and the energy.
Doing civil disobedience and getting away is better than doing it and getting arrested (if you can do it safely).

What do you plan to do if the police continue to brutalize you? Perhaps this is why there was a call to create barricades - in order to defend yourselves from assaults by the cops. I've been to a number of protests and witnessed police indiscriminately assault people without provocation. Their role is to maintain order, an order which this occupation seeks to dismantle. That's going to make them naturally antagonistic. They want you to go away. They're willing to beat and arrest you to insure you do so. So what's the plan to defend yourselves?

Thanks for posting those links - there's some valuable information there! I'm not on the ground, so barricades may not make sense. But people do need to think about what they can do collectively to resist assaults by the police. They're only going to get worse.

Thanks to all the activists who were arrested and those who filmed the disgusting actions of the NYPD acting against American citizens exercising their right to Free Speech. This is intolerable. We need to speak out against these actions as well. The NYPD switchboard is
1-646-610-5000. To e-mail Mayor Bloomberg:
http://www.nyc.gov/html/mail/html/mayor.html

It's great to see this action being taken - better late than never. This Wall Street protest is very interesting to me, because I invented such a protest in my latest novel and the official response was the same - to try and shut it down. In the book, the protest sets off a series of events which ultimately transforms the country for the good as everyday people learn about how our economy works and how we ended up in this financial mess. The novel is called Gold Street, by Kathy T. Kale.

You are doing what so many of us want to do, but for some reason cannot. I don't have financial means at this exact moment to join you, but I'm trying desperately to organize some way to get myself and others who may want to give you bodies in the streets up there. My husband works 2 jobs 5 days a week, and still we are always on the verge of losing our very modest home and everything he works so hard for. Our health insurance premiums and copays are skyrocketing, while raises come in nickels and dimes. I watch him work himself to death, watch as he ages well beyond his 41 years, and I get angry-angry at a system that will not allow hard work to equal prosperity, angry at a government that allows bankers and ceos to walk off with all the money people like my husband made FOR them, angry at people who think this is alright. It's not. It's inhumane, it's cruel, it's sick. You are representing such a HUGE majority of people. I salute you and will keep trying to find some way to be there with you, even for a short time.

Almost had my support till I saw you are teaching the Communist Manifesto. Have you ever read a history book? Socialism does not work! I have no interest in supporting a group that wants to go from crony capitalism to socialism. What a bunch of morons.

Thank you to all posters. Keeping it non violent is the key, and someone mentioned not yield to temptation of any kind. We know how they do it in the movies, hiring kids to break into and loot so it looks like we are the bad guys. WE ARE PEACEFUL and remain so. It's not the "stuff" we want, we want to live life with and within the principles of Peace On Earth to ALL. Our prayers to all of you out on the STREETs.

Politicians will never be able to accept donations (or any other form of money) from bankers or corporations that have been involved in fraud, fines for illegal behavior, slave labor or externatlities. All money must be donated from the 99%.

The federal reserve shall no longer be a separate entity owned by a group of bankers. The Government and American people shall control the bank system.

Do away with the "loan system."

Corporations will have limitations. They cannot outsource more than 50% of their jobs. Also, monopolies will be limited. They cannot just go into towns and destory all of the competition by using sheer numbers, size and improper buisness practices (wall mart).

The tax system needs to be redone. It needs to be simeple, so that even a high school graduate can understand it.

If a corporation is involved in corrupt or illegal activities, their assets and investments can be frozen for up to 5 years. No OPERATION.

Spain is watching you and I think all the world too!!!! Keep protesting peacefully and safe! Media will ignore it but you must be louder :)
Keep protesting till 15th October because all the world will rise with you!!

President Obama, get the govertment off the backs of the people. Its easy to do. The government is right there in the back pocket of the Banks. Betray those who put you there. Lincoln did. Jacob never learns. Cut the head of these "brood of vipers" as John the Baptist called them off. Rout them out, like Jackson. You want equality with greatness? Talk is cheap. We need you to come through. Or we perish. The correct answer to tyranny is, No! No NWO. No Zionist world rule. No more Communisn/Capitalism, the twin horns of the dilemma that they've put us on. No master race of swindlers. Just God, country, family, Mother Earth.

President Obama, get the govertment off the backs of the people. Its easy to do. The government is right there in the back pocket of the Banks. Betray those who put you there. Lincoln did. Jacob never learns. Cut the head of these "brood of vipers" as John the Baptist called them off. Rout them out, like Jackson. You want equality with greatness? Talk is cheap. We need you to come through. Or we perish. The correct answer to tyranny is, No! No NWO. No Zionist world rule. No more Communisn/Capitalism, the twin horns of the dilemma that they've put us on. No master race of swindlers. Just God, country, family, Mother Earth.

I have been watching the protest and posting about it with regularity. This morning's events shocked me. It was really difficult to watch the videos. When the police attacked the peaceful protesters, somehow they attacked us all.

The show of support has been remarkable! Today, the movement sprung forward, propelled by the poisoned arrow of malevolence displayed by the NYPD and yes, the world was watching. I am seeing crowdsourcing at its finest. Here are the latest developments, incurred or re-energized as a direct result of today:

2011 International Road to Dignity http://bit.ly/Road2Dignity has an inspirational timetable for the world Revolution. September 17 was a midway point. On October 6, the occupation of Freedom Plaza in Washington DC starts: http://october2011.org/

By the time the Worldwide Protest ensues on October 15 http://15oct.takethesquare.net/ we'll have the Occupy Wall Street protests still ongoing, not only in New York, but in several other places throughout the United States, along with the ongoing occupation of Freedom Plaza in DC, as well as the ongoing Greek, Spanish, French, English, Israeli and Arab protests. The People of the World are uniting in their stand against the greed and corruption permeating every layer of our governments, owned and directed by the very same people who rape and pillage our lands and our people, who in their greed driven myopia are destroying Mother Earth and all Life on it. It's time!

Cannot block street, cannot use mic, cannot even cover up things with plastic sheet. Is this the freedom of expression that USA try to preach to others around the world? Where are Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International?

I read a suggestion to engage the celebrities. I think this is unwise unless you have celebrities who are ready to be shoved around, pushed about, beaten up and get arrested by the police. Otherwise they may turn the protest into an entertainment to enhance their popularity. Remember, a Revolution is no picnic.

We The People of The United States of Americans, You're Country NEEDS You to Act. Time the Country comes back to the people.Let our Voices Shake the Foundation of Congress, No more Lobbiest, No more Corporate Republicans and Democrats, No more Corporations Wrighting our Countrys Laws, No more Corruption and No more Wealthy TAX Breaks(Loopholes)Americans Citizens, People. It's Time to Vote Out All Elected Officials who do Harm against a Fellow American by Law. If Animals can be Protected by Laws, so should the American People! Vote them OUT!

Just from keeping up with blog posts and some videos for a few months now, my own summary statement of Occupy Wall St is this:

Politicians, law enforcers, and corporate executives:
Act with integrity. Act ethically. Conduct yourselves in a way that's fitting with national and international leaders. Because everything you do will last forever.

When you're being taped doing things like this, or when a national news agency publishes articles of what you've been doing to customers, employees, citizens, or voters, that information will be available forever. You'll never be able to make it go away. The world really IS watching. In the novel 1984, the main character's job was to expunge the bad PR about Big Brother from print, like it never happened. But this is 2011, and the Arab Spring model is immune to Big Brother tactics. They will never work again. Do something unjust, unethical, or illegal, and video will go viral almost immediately. The days of doing whatever you want at whatever the cost are coming to a close.

As suggested by Democracynow.org commentators, you need to enunciate a specific platform and explicit set of demands that you expect to be met in order to call off the protest. You need to be committed to protesting and building the movement to occupy WS until your demands are met. And you need to make the world know of your demands. Good Luck! Inquilab Zindabad!!!

Occupy everything, demand nothing. Don't let this occupation be recuperated by opportunists who'd like to limit it's scope and use it for their own political agenda. The demand is the impossible. The value in this is the process, the opening of an autonomous space cultivating resistance. The wealthy elite and their servants in government are not going to voluntarily give up power. They will concede, but only when they legitimately fear revolt and revolution. People need to learn how to resist collectively. This is an excellent opportunity.

check out the days of rage in chicago if you'd like to get some press coverage. a bleeding finger isn't compelling. i hate to break it to you, if you think you're going to keep lloyd blankfein from llaughing all the way to the bbank, you're going to have to get the nypd worked up over something. as it is, they look like the heroes putting up with weepy and whiney... ow ow ow, he's bleeding he's bleeding are not rallying cries for the masses, guys.

the whole world is watching yemen where people are in the streets getting killed

Thanks for all the people from other countries who are supporting this cause.
I hope more people here in the US are supporting this protest as well!
You should keep in mind that Americans many times act irrational sometimes because of what the government did to them in the past.
The cold war left an irreparable scar in the psyche of many Americans. Now most of them flip out when there is a hint of what they wrongfully perceive to be communism.
They were taught to duck and cover in case an atomic bomb exploded on top of them!

Those who can't attend the Wall Street movement should look into starting protests in their respective states and camping out in front of their state capital buildings. Imagine even just 1,000 people in front of the capitals of all 50 states; that's a number they can't just ignore.

Could you provide someway of donation, like the wikileaks did ?
Right now the major media have blocked and buried most of your news ! Only Facebook and Twitters! I hope you can emphasize and highlight some hero stories to attract more attention and gain more influence !!
Sigh ... Thank You All For Your Effort To Make This World A Better Place !!

I'm hoping to find a group in MI or Nearby OH to go out to NY, until I can find one, know that I'm so rooting for you all, and you are amazing. I've been boosting the signal! KEEP IT UP. THE WHOLE WORLD IS WATCHING.

If you readers truly care about this event, get writing to your local news agencies and demand that they report on the events taking place. Provide them with all the links photos and articles to show them that we are getting the information despite them! Its only a matter of time before the change happens, but one thing is for sure WE WILL REMEMBER THOSE WHO HELPED AND THOSE WHO HINDERED.

Suggestion for Anonymous.
Choose the media outlet you want to cover this, and hack them during their live media feeds, then insert your own feeds of local pictures, videos, various demands, as well as methods you are going out, make this make national and international news.

Message from the Street: The NYPD and the Mayor's office are forbidding -any- tents at this time. Please contact them and put pressure on these two institutions to permit the protesters to have protection from the elements during this peaceful protest.

There's plenty of food. Right now, the big concern is needing more sleeping bags/bedding, and being allowed tents.

A law firm just volunteered to fight for us pro bono so we can erect tents and other temporary structures. They believe it's legal so here's to hoping we can put an end to much of the police abuse and intimidation.

Aren't you all embarrassed at the amount of work you are placing on the NYPD? Not only do they have to constantly monitor one of the largest cities in the world for crime and terrorism post-911, they now have to deal with a confused group of people who don't know what they are protesting against. Star systems? Patents on independent energy sources?? Everyone has the right to own a home??? What does this have to do with wall street?

How would you as a police officer deal with what looks like a 200-500 lb object balled up on the ground in a tarp? Especially given the real threat of terrorists bombing, or flying airplanes through your buildings? I guess that is why you aren't police officers and decide to focus your free time on picketing.

Go down to DC and fight this out with Obama and leave the NYPD and new York city tax payers (who are paying the tab on your protest) out of it.

what if we all write the NYPD and other resp. protesting (I think nicely but firmly), from all around the world. Telling them we are watching them.
they accept anon. messages
eso, eso: el pueblo unido jamas sera vencido

I just want to tell everyone over there that I support and admire you all very much. I am from Romania, and can't do much about it. Just send waves of positive energy

If I could be there this is what would be on my list of demands :

Demand these things :

Demand the freeing of the free energy devices, held by the U.S. Patent Office so they can be used by anyone in the world, in any way, may it be for a mass usage product such as free transportation, or anything else. There are 65.000 free energy patents held blocked by the U.S. Government. We only need ONE for a 100 % clean Environment.

2 . Demand that the president of the united states (or any other president, of any other country in the world for that matter), announce Disclosure and open Contact and Communication with beings from other planets/places/star systems.

Well it's not a secret anymore that beings from other galaxies and star systems have been waiting eagerly and lovingly to re-establish a connection with us. The Universal Law of Free Will that is present here on Earth says that our galactic brothers and sisters cannot just appear here out of nowhere if the intention of the majority of people on earth is not agreeing with open contact. All the leaders of the countries have known of the existence of "Star Seeds" since at least 1940. Announcing Disclosure from a country president would mean a "formal recognition" that star people exist. But they think that we are two scared for that, based on the countless "hollywoodlike fear based movies" regarding life on other planets that comes and takes over earth, bla bla. But if the "99 percent" starts asking for disclosure, it means that we are ready to welcome our star brothers and sisters with love, and not with fear. That would be the first step in making contact with them.

Let's face it. America as a nation has failed. The reason why it is still
around is because like its banks, the failure would so big that it is too big to
fail. Its failure will create shock wave which will reverberate across the world
and cause many more nations to fail. More of the same will not do. Neither will
maintaining the status quo. The only way is to completely destroy the present
system and start all over again from scratch. The only way to achieve this is
through a revolution.
Revolution! Revolution! Revolution!

The Wall Street neighborhood is locked down with metal barricades. Feels like the NYPD locked the stock brokers behind bars. You guys are making a statement. I was very impressed with your grass roots organization, message for corporate responsibility and the right for human dignity.

I was part of the Battle for Seattle. The media portrayed the protesters as anarchists that should be feared. But how did those WTO meeting go for middle class America? It brought us to this point in history. The time is now for the common man to be heard through the last means afforded us. Long term local public protests. Corporations need to be held accountable for their greed, destruction of the Earth and disregard of a persons need for a living wage.

I will be back there on Wed. afternoon to stand shoulder to shoulder with you. Spread the news people... Get down to Wall Street...

I think something you should think about is relating to the police. They are doing their job and don't know what else to do. Shake their hands every time you pass them. Let them know that this is for them too. This is their voice as well!!
Make sure that you keep this peaceful. Do not let the media and the droids get in and place the "evil anarchist" that starts looting.
Keep the PEACE!
You are brave and need to get in touch with main stream media and get this message out there.
Capitalism works for no one, not the wealthy, not the poor and no one in between.
Change will come your way!

We are rejecting an unjust economic system, we are rejecting a corrupt government, we are rejecting a way of life that puts abstract representations of wealth above the real lives of human beings. We reject any system that sees everything in the world as a commodity to be exploited.

We support democracy, equality, justice, education, healthcare, and a better future.

Nice proclamation, did you steal that from robin hood? The top 1% of the population pay about 40% of the income taxes the US collects. Is that fair? Do you see the wealthy knocking on the governments door to ask for more services to be included to that tab? Nope, they dont complain and it goes to building up a large government, paying for benefits and social services they don't use, and financing social welfare for other countries around the world. Even though this happens the "1%", and those like myself who are lumped into that category because we work on wall street don't camp out in your backyard chiding you to suck it up and help make america the intellectual, hardworking power it once was.

Imagine I was your landlord and I told you I wanted you to pay more rent than the other tenants because your income is higher? Maybe the additional rent will go to repairs on the other Apartments in the building, but we weren't going to touch yours because you could afford your own repairs. I'm sure you will post something like "I would do what's best for the community",but deep inside you know you think it's unfair.

Try flying out to one of the Arabic states where the rioting occurred if you want to see injustice. ask them how their waterlines run, or how much land they have.

I came from an uneducated family and grew up in a city with 100+ murders/year and went through a tough inner city school.. I financed my own college education by joining the military then worked my way to where I am today by working hard.

Life and your surroundings are what you make of it here and you should appreciate and take prode in that.

That figure about 40% of income taxes means nothing when the overall amount of income tax levied on the wealthiest has substantially decreased, and when they have the ability to move their funds offshore and engage in other accounting shenanigans to avoid paying their fair share. It's also meaningless when the richest 400 families have more wealth than the bottom 50% of Americans:

Right now we have record numbers of people living in poverty and on food stamps. Unemployment is at over 9% (closer to 20% if you don't use the BLS filters). 50 million people cannot afford health insurance. Education across the nation is being de-funded. Meanwhile the government can loan out $16 trillion to wall street banks and continue wars and occupations around the globe. The picture you are painting of a "large government" and a level playing field where "life is what you make of it" simply has no relation to reality. Not any more.

You also talk about Arab states and their poverty and inequality while neglecting to mention that this caused directly by the actions of the American government and the neoliberal policies they foist on states in the MENA region and around the world. Who kept Mubarak in power for decades? Who supported the President of Yemen? Who sold arms to Gaddafi in the last decade? Who has been causing terrorism and injustice in the Middle East since 1953, when the CIA removed the democratically elected Prime Minister of Iran?

Debbie Paulsen> Love you and respect what you are doing:) I am working for exposure so that we the People can move on towards demands. Information supports Yahoo is hindering communications. I have been a news contributor with them for years, since before they took over Associated Content> I wrote the following article, which with my tenure would have normally published automatically< It did not< HERE IS YAHOO MESSAGE TO CONTRIBUTING AUTHORS:
"Contributors are currently experiencing multiple site issues, including difficulty staying signed in and/or submitting content. While we are actively addressing these issues, we recommend saving your work in an external program and refraining from submitting content. We will remove this message when site stability returns".

HERE IS THE ARTICLE IN ITS ENTIRETY >

WHAT IS OCCUPY WALL ST.
Occupy Wall St. has been called a "pointless sleepover" by some, a “Non Event” by others. Many are impatiently waiting for "something" to "happen"> disappointed, and easily distracted because they "see" no excitement and feel no clear "purpose" to relate to. We The People need to stand firm and be patient, and continue working together to promote awareness and encourage others to "get on board". Become a Board Member for a Better America.
PEOPLE HAVE QUESTIONS AND WANT TO KNOW,
Many people are saying that they are not hearing much on the news and don’t understand what Occupy Wall St. stands for, they would like clarification:
"What am I getting on "board" for?”
“Every good protest has a specific cause and clear set of demands outlining what is required to end the protest, what are the demands of the Occupy Wall St. movement?”
THIS GENERAL STATEMENT MAY HELP EXPLAIN THAT FOR THOSE INTERESTED BUT UNSURE
"Organizing immense masses of individuals does take time. We are divided not only by physical miles, but by cultural and historical, ethical and ethnic space as well. We have many differences of opinion, but we do agree there is "something wrong", and fueled by a sense of compassion and frustration we are coming together, and for the moment that is enough.”
Continued unity with open and intelligent discussion and information sharing will determine the most pressing Needs and Concerns of The People. It will be the NEEDS of the people that will determine the demands; until this very complex process is completed specific "demands" will not be presented.
We must first gather and process all of the input and information, only then can a clear, concise presentable list of implementable demands for real change and justice be prepared and presented.".

IS THIS REALLY A BIG MOVEMENT?
YES! It is not at all uncommon for media in any country to downplay protests. Occupy Wall St. IS right at the stage it should be right now. Staying calm, and preparing to hunker down for the long haul and hold LIBERTY PARK. The "PURPOSE" at the moment is to create unity, identify resources and locate our most effective leaders. We need individuals at logistics levels, as well as those with communication skills; especially eloquent intelligent spokespeople that can come from the heart and not a page.
FOR NOW, WHAT CAN PEOPLE DO?
SUPPORT THOSE HOLDING LIBERTY PARK>
DEMAND MEDIA COVERAGE>
No matter what small town you live in you can help. Roaming pickets in front of small town media offices can be a very important initiative at the individual level. You only need 2 or more people to be effective. Choose a location and stroll with your support signs, speaking to pedestrians when possible. If you raise awareness with a few people you have succeeded, if you are asked to leave by authorities, comply, you have succeeded, you got attention. Take pictures, post story anywhere online you can. Use all social utility networks at your disposal to promote promote promote.
Call and be heard, ask why this is not on the news. ABC 147 Columbus Ave., Ny, NY Phone: 212-456-7777 BBC America 747 Third Avenue, 6th Floor, NY, NY 10017 Phone: 212-705-9300 CBS News 524 W. 57 St., NY NY, Phone: 212-975-4321
Many Individuals are USING THE MACHINE TO BEAT THE MACHINE> TWITTER CELEBS> TWITTER NEWS AGENCIES> FLOOD FACEBOOK WALLS> DEMAND COVERAGE.
Hopefully very soon websites will organize and begin offering pdf. files for literature handouts. Start a webpage For example start a SOWS Page, Support Occupation Wall St., providing important links and information such as:

http://www.livestream.com/globalrevolutionhttp://www.adbusters.org/
Legal help through National Lawyers Guild 212 679 6016
WITNESS FOR THEIR CONTINUED SAFETY> Follow Livestream and UStream video coverage and comment often.
IF AT ALL POSSIBLE GO TO LIBERTY PARK>
If you live in the area offer water, food, or batteries, cell phone time, if nothing else encouragement.
If you can get to New York< reinforcements are and will always be needed.
This will not end next week> the people intend to peacefully occupy Wall st. and hold Liberty Park for months, and they need support so that TPTB know this> speak up for Occupy Wall St.> Let the TPTB and main stream media know this will not end by using the regular response> which is ignoring the people>
When the time is ripe demands will be clarified and presented.

Here is what I said>
I have been a long standing member here, like many others, for years, and I have never received this message before:
"Contributors are currently experiencing multiple site issues, including difficulty staying signed in and/or submitting content. While we are actively addressing these issues, we recommend saving your work in an external program and refraining from submitting content. We will remove this message when site stability returns".

The article in question was titled "What Is Occupy Wall St.". Since I write mainly for pleasure and experience and exposure here it is
important to me that my freedom of expression remains free. There are a number of you tube and internet articles claiming Yahoo in
particular is hindering Occupy Wall st communications> Input anyone? I am busy with a number of projects but will check in tomorrow for responses. Management level replies welcome too, because I would like to publish my article:)

TY
We ARE ALL OUR OWN SPOKESPERSON:) Spread the Love, Keep it peaceful, Hold Liberty Park until we are better organized:)
Debra Paulsen Hogansville Ga.

If interested I do have a rough draft for Just such a revolution that I could update< it was written in 2008 I tried to start a Miracle on Pennsylvania Petition:) GL and Stay Safe all

The majority of the people who works on Wall Street are just average Joe’s. They are maintenance workers and office workers, not exactly wealthy people. We commute into the city every day so we can have a roof over our heads and feed our families. We had to deal with the horror of 911 and some of us even lost some close friends. We have more respect for our police and firefighters than ever before and now to see those same people having to deal with protesters is turns my stomach. Just when things were starting to look better on Wall Street we (the people who work for a living) now have to deal with barricades and more security check points. And for what! So a bunch of boomerang generation college drop outs that still live at home with Mom and Dad can stink up the streets. You want to fight for your country then join the armed forces if your man enough. You want a say in government then get a job, pay some taxes and run for office, but until then get the hell out of MY CITY!

1.) This is America. It's not your city, it's everyone's city.
2.) You can project whatever image you want on the protesters, but I worked a six-figure salaried job and paid plenty of taxes, until I quit to do something I feel is actually "useful" for society and I am not the only one who fits this description.
3.) We respect the police, they are fellow brothers and sisters in our struggle. We understand that they are 'doing their jobs' by tormenting and beating us for insubordination. We wish they wouldn't do it, but we have no ill feelings towards them for it.
4.) The government has literally no say in this country, the people in the top 1% do. Why would we want jobs there?
5.) I respect your opinion, but remember that what I and others are doing right now, we are doing for the good of you and the rest of the 99%.